Questions Megyn Kelly should ask Donald Trump

When the nation tunes in to watch FOX News anchor Megyn Kelly interview GOP front-runner Donald Trump on May 17, it will be the apotheosis of the presidential campaign as Reality TV. Two shellacked frenemies will overreact to a real slight for the benefit of the cameras -- a plot line perfected years ago by television producers. Whether Trump and Kelly's attempt to patch things up turns into a grudge match, political theater or substantive debate over serious policy issues, those in the news media are already calling Must See TV.

This weekend at the White House Correspondents Dinner, Variety asked journalists what Kelly should ask Trump. Some, like CNN's Jake Tapper, wouldn't share their closely-guarded questions, while others, like the Boston Globe's Michael Rezendes, was happy give Kelly some ideas.

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Questions Megyn Kelly should ask Donald Trump

U.S. President Barack Obama and First lady Michelle Obama stand during a presentation of colors at the White House Correspondents Association's annual dinner in Washington, U.S., April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 30: (AFP OUT) President Barack Obama speaks during the White House Correspondents' Association annual dinner on April 30, 2016 at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, DC. This is President Obama's eighth and final White House Correspondents' Association dinner (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)

U.S. President Barack Obama says "Obama out!" at the White House Correspondents' Association annual dinner in Washington, U.S., April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 30: (AFP OUT) Comedian Larry Wilmore speaks during the White House Correspondents' Association annual dinner on April 30, 2016 at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington.This is President Obama's eighth and final White House Correspondents' Association dinner (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 30: (AFP OUT) President Barack Obama speaks during the White House Correspondents' Association annual dinner on April 30, 2016 at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, DC. This is President Obama's eighth and final White House Correspondents' Association dinner (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)

U.S. President Barack Obama laughs at the White House Correspondents' Association annual dinner in Washington, U.S., April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

U.S. President Barack Obama stands between WHCA President Carol Lee (R) and Jerry Seib of The Wall Street Journal at the the White House Correspondents Association's annual dinner in Washington, U.S., April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

2. "I think she must ask him directly, how he could be so demeaning in his statements about women, and particularly about her. There are lots of different ways you can ask that question. She has a personal stake in it because I think his remarks about her were just kind of unforgivable. But he still hasn't gotten the hint. He still doesn't understand what the appropriate boundaries are for public discourse on any number of issues." Walter Robinson, investigative reporter for Boston Globe's Spotlight division

3. "Would he order a military strike on North Korea's nuclear program? Is he prepared to accept major losses in Seoul because the North Koreans would then rain hell down on Seoul." Jim Sciutto, chief national security correspondent for CNN

4. "I'm hoping to interview Donald Trump myself, so I don't want to give away any of my best questions. I'm just looking forward a good conversation. She's a serious journalist. He's a presidential frontrunner. I'm just looking forward to the interview." Wolf Blitzer, host of CNN's "The Situation Room"

5. "I just want her to ask tough questions. It is great ratings. We're all going to be tuning in so I want her to be tough. I'll be the first one to be DVR-ing and watching live. I can't wait for it." Candace Cameron Bure, co-host of ABC's "The View"

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 30: Megyn Kelly and Diana Williams attend the 2017 Gold & Silver Circle Induction Ceremony at The Lambs Club on November 30, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Mack/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 30: Presenter Megyn Kelly and Silver Circle Inductee Susan Lucci at the 2017 Gold & Silver Circle Induction Ceremony at The Lambs Club on November 30, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Mack/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 29: Megyn Kelly, NBC News Anchor and host of 'Megyn Kelly Today' speaks onstage with Alyson Shontell at IGNITION: Future of Media at Time Warner Center on November 29, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - November 15: Megyn Kelly attends the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Double Helix Medals Dinner at the American Museum of Natural History Street on November 15, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 14: Megyn Kelly is seen during an appearance on 'Access Hollywood' on November 14, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 19: Megyn Kelly is seen on September 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 28: Douglas Brunt and journalist Megyn Kelly attend the 17th Annual USTA Foundation Opening Night Gala at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2017 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) talk to journalist Megyn Kelly (R) on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) at the Constantine (Konstantinovsky) Palace, Russia, June 1, 2017. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 24: Megyn Kelly (C), Darth Vader and Stormtroopers from the 501st Legion attend New York Philharmonic's Spring Gala, A John Williams Celebration at David Geffen Hall on May 24, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for New York Philharmonic)

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 02: Megyn Kelly attends the 'Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology' Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 08: Journalist Megyn Kelly attends Variety's Power Of Women: New York 2016 at Cipriani Midtown on April 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/FilmMagic)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 06: Megyn Kelly attends the 7th Annual Women in the World Summit Opening Night at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on April 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic)

Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly waits to begin the Republican presidential candidate debate at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. Candidates from both parties are crisscrossing Iowa, an agricultural state of about 3 million people in the U.S. heartland that will hold the first votes of the 2016 election on Feb. 1. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

DES MOINES, IA - JANUARY 28: Moderators Chris Wallace (L) pats on the shoulder of Megyn Kelly (2nd L) as they wait with Bret Baier (R) for the beginning of the Fox News - Google GOP Debate January 28, 2016 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Residents of Iowa will vote for the Republican nominee at the caucuses on February 1. Donald Trump, who is leading most polls in the state, decided not to participate in the debate. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 27: Megyn Kelly attends at the benefit concert for Army SPC Bryan Dilberain at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts on April 27, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 19: Kid Rock with host Megyn Kelly visits FOX's 'America Live' at FOX Studios on June 19, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)

ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 22: Fox anchor Megyn Kelly prepares for the Fox News/Google GOP Debate at the Orange County Convention Center on September 22, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. The debate features the nine Republican candidates two days before the Florida straw poll. (Photo by Charles Ommanney/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 10: Megyn Kelly, host of America Live on set at Fox News studios in New York. Fox News Channel celebrated its 15th anniversary on the air on October 7th.

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6. "I'd just get right to it: 'Given everything you've said about me, given everything you've said about Hillary Clinton, do you have a problem with women in professional positions and positions of power?' She should also ask him if he thinks some of the mayhem at his campaign rallies can be attributed to his rhetoric."Michael Rezendes, investigative reporter for Boston Globe's Spotlight division

7. "I would never be so presumptuous to tell Megyn what to ask." Jake Tapper, host of CNN's "The Lead"

8. "Are your attacks against me calculated or are they spontaneous? When you are watching my show and you get angry, do you ever stop and put the keyboard down and think before you tweet? What advice has your wife Melania given you about the ways you describe me and belittle me?" Brian Stelter, host of CNN's "Reliable Sources"

9. "She should ask him why does he brag about getting 4-4.5 hours sleep and what effect does he think his sleep deprivation has on his decision making, his mood and his health?" Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, author of "The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time."

10. "I'm not giving Megyn Kelly advice. She knows exactly what to do. Anytime you get an interview with Donald, it's unpredictable, but now we are getting down to the nitty and the gritty. That's going to be must-see TV." Gayle King, co-anchor, "CBS This Morning"

11. "I have a whole bunch of questions. I'll leave it to her. Obviously, the moment itself is going to be just a television moment when they get together and do that. She's a real pro, and I think it will be fascinating to watch. I'm going to get the popcorn." Bret Baier, host of FOX News' "Special Report"

12. "Truthfully, and this is going to be boring, but I would like to hear him talk about some of his policies beyond the personality clash. He just gave a big foreign policy speech. There is a ton of stuff to mine there. As somebody who covered the George W. Bush administration, their policy was to create democracy abroad. And he has completely turned that around and said it is not our job, and now a lot of Republicans really believe that. To explore that arc in the Republican Party with him would be really interesting." Dana Bash, chief political correspondent at CNN